A wide, eye-level shot of two hikers walking away from the camera on a gravel path through the countryside on a sunny day. The path is flanked by long green grass and shrubs, leading towards a view of distant green fields and rolling hills under a blue sky with fluffy white clouds.

North Wessex Downs Landscape Character Assessment refreshed for 2025

The updated Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) for the North Wessex Downs National Landscape is now live on the National Landscape’s website.

LUC first prepared the LCA in 2002. This refresh brings it in line with current guidance and industry standards, with a clearer, more accessible design.

The updated document reflects over two decades of change and insight, while keeping the distinctive qualities of the North Wessex Downs at its heart.

A person wearing a yellow high-visibility vest and a helmet is riding a gray horse along a dirt track. The path curves up a grassy hill with a wire and wooden fence running alongside it. In the background, there is a panoramic view of rolling hills and a valley under a partly cloudy blue sky.

Our team carried out a comprehensive field survey to capture the area’s rich variety of landscapes.

We also ran an online consultation with local stakeholders to understand what they most value about the landscape and what changes – positive or negative – they have observed.

A village street in England with traditional thatched-roof cottages. The cottages are made of brick and have white-framed windows. A few cars are parked on the side of the road, which is asphalt. The sky is partly cloudy. The cottages on the right are closer to the camera and have more detail.

The refreshed LCA identifies eight distinct ‘Landscape Character Types’ across the National Landscape:

  • Open Downland
  • Downland with Woodland
  • Wooded Plateau
  • High Chalk Plain
  • Downs Plain and Scarp
  • Vales
  • River Valleys
  • Lowland Mosaic
An elevated, sweeping view of a rural English landscape under an overcast sky. In the foreground, a steep, vibrant green hillside is covered in a series of ancient, wave-like horizontal terraces (lynchets). Beyond this, the view opens up to a wide valley filled with a patchwork of green and brown fields, dotted with trees. In the far distance, a line of wind turbines is visible on the horizon.

Each type has its own sense of place, shaped by geology, landform, vegetation, settlement patterns, and land use.

Together, they form a visibly ancient and diverse landscape, from the sweeping chalk downs to secluded wooded areas and low-lying heaths.

An autumnal view of a rolling agricultural landscape under a partly cloudy sky. In the foreground, a vast, freshly ploughed field with rich brown earth follows the undulating contours of the land, creating sweeping curves of light and shadow. In the distance, two tractors can be seen working in the field. The entire scene is backed by a dense, wide band of woodland with trees showing autumn colours of green, yellow, and orange.

The updated LCA provides an essential evidence base for planning, conservation, and landscape management across the North Wessex Downs.

It will support decisions that protect the area’s special qualities while guiding positive change.

A layered view of the English countryside on a partly cloudy day. In the foreground, a vibrant field of yellow rapeseed flowers is in full bloom. Beyond it lies a pale brown field bordered by trees. In the background, a large, rolling green hill is lit by patches of sunlight, and the iconic, stylised white figure of the Uffington White Horse is visible, carved into the distant hillside.

You can explore the full assessment and factsheets on the North Wessex Downs National Landscape website.

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